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Ontario urged to adopt vehicle emission limits

By Chinta PuxleyCanadian press

Thu., April 5, 2007

The country can't make significant progress on greenhouse gas emissions if its most populous province fails to target SUVs and the commuting culture in its climate change plan, environmentalists warned Thursday.

Ontario is set unveil a $200-million plan on climate change within weeks, but critics said it would have to contain California-style emission standards and strict regulatory changes to make a significant contribution.

Keith Stewart, manager of the climate change program at the World Wildlife Fund, said greenhouse gas emissions from large vehicles in Ontario have increased over 120 per cent since 1990. Ontario drivers contribute more to the province's overall greenhouse gas emissions than any form of industry or manufacturing, he said.

Other provinces, including Quebec, Nova Scotia and British Columbia, are poised to impose strict vehicle emission standards, said Stewart. Since Ontario contributes 28 per cent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, he said the province should follow suit.

"Ontario should just do the same so manufacturers know where it's going and they can start planning appropriately," Stewart said. "They can meet these types of standards in other parts of the world. There's no reason they can't do it here."

Rather than impose harsh taxes on SUVs and light trucks, Stewart said the province should target such vehicles with strict regulations and leave it up to the manufacturers to figure out how to make greener cars.

"This is what worked on acid rain, it's what worked on getting the lead out of gasoline," he said. "It can work on climate change."

At the same time, activists say the province has to put an end to the urban sprawl driving up its greenhouse gas emissions.

Mark Winfield, director of environmental governance at the Pembina Institute, said it's not enough to just build more green cars. The province also has to stop building suburban communities that encourage long-distance commutes and don't offer viable public transit, he said.

Cars may be getting more fuel-efficient, but he said people are driving them more.

"It's less dealing with . . . what comes out of the tailpipe and more dealing with the way cities are built," Winfield said.

Environment Minister Laurel Broten said she is paying close attention to the concerns of activists but wouldn't say what kind of options she is considering.

"Everybody is so anxious, but I'm not going to make any announcements and you guys are just going to have to wait for the plan to come out," she said. "I'm not going to speculate about all the different things that we're looking at."

Critics are skeptical that Ontario's plan will be far-reaching enough to cut Canada's greenhouse gas emissions significantly, but others are encouraged that other provinces are trying to address the issue.

Quebec is adopting California-style emission standards for its vehicles and is offering tax breaks for fuel-efficient cars while British Columbia has vowed to impose a carbon tax and beef up its emission standards.

But Julia Langer, director of the global threats program at the World Wildlife Fund, said Ontario is a huge part of Canada's problem and must have an aggressive plan to go green.

"We are not a bit player in this," she said.

New Democrat Peter Tabuns said he's hopeful the province will do the right thing. Ontario doesn't have to write huge cheques to make a difference, he said.

The Liberals could impose strict vehicle emission standards and actually save money by cutting back on highway expansions, he said.

"If (the plan) doesn't incorporate key elements like Kyoto timelines and targets, then frankly it will not be seen as a credible plan," said Tabuns, former director of Greenpeace.

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